Tensioning device for knitting machines



Dec. 8, 1931. c. T. LA MONT I TENSIONING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8, 1931. Q LA MONT 1,835,654

TENSIONING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 f '1'. LA MONT, E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN TENSIONING- DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINE Application filed December 21, 1929. Serial No. 415,813.

This invention relates to improvements in tensionlng devices for knlttmg machines.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a tensioning device for gripping and holding the leg portion of a stocking and a portion of the foot which is knitted onto the leg of the stocking, so that the foot portion of the stocking may be completed without injuring in any way the fine fabric of which the leg portion is constructed.

lnent A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved gripping means for tensioning devices 'of the above character which will securely hold the leg portion of 115 the stocking in place and under proper tension while the foot portion of the stocking is being knitted onto the leg.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of'improved tensioning means which can be engaged with the leg portion of a stocking without injuring the fabric, even when formed of the sheerest of chifl'on and is so arranged as to provide an equalized strain throughout the width of the stocking which is extremely necessary in knitting the foot thereon.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrange of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved tcnsioning tionnof the same;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device in in operative position Figure 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; a

Figure 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 of'Figure 3; and,

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 66 of Figure 3. y

Figure 7 is a top plan view, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved device includes in its construction an elongated bar 1, at the outer ends device, illustrating the applica-' of which I provide hooks 2 preferably with comparativelysharp engaging points which are adapted to engage the heel tabs 3 of the body of the stocking 4 and as these heel tabs are of a double weave, the hooks will not as a general rule injure the fabric by engaging them therewith.

Mounted upon opposite sides of the central portion of the bar 1 are the screw bolts 5, and positioned upon these screw bolts 5 are the spaced pads 6 and 7. The pads 6 and 7 are formed of yieldable fabric, such as felt or the like, with the lowermost pad 7 substantially larger than the uppermost pad 6, and said pads being arranged in spaced relation, as shown in Figure 5.

Spaced from the bar 1 and positioned parallel therewith is a second bar 8 considerably shorter than the bar 1, and provided with a central longitudinal slot 9. Attached to the ends of the bar 8 are the tension sprin s 10 carrying at their outer ends yieldable oops 11 having restricted portions 12. I

The bars 1 and 8 are connected by means of a strap 13, one end of which is passed through a central slot in bar 1, as shown'in Figure 2, and sewed to'the body portion of the strap, while the other end is passed through the slot 9 in the bar 8 and also sewed to the body of the strap, thus connect ing the twobars l and 8.

Attached to the bar 8' by having one end pass through the slot 9 and connected to the body is the strap 14 which passes over the take-up roll15. As shown in Figure 1, the books 2 are engaged with the heel tabs 3 and the fine body portion 4 of the stocking is between pads 6 and 7 by placing a portion of the stocking over the pads 6 and then dropping the loops 11, engaged over the smaller or upper pad 6 and then allowing the restricted portions 12 to engage between the two pads 6 and 7. as shown in Figure 1, for securely holding the fine fabric portion of the body of the stocking.

It will be apparent that by using the two pads 6 and 7 and the loops 11, together with their restricted portions 12, the fine fabric portion of the body of the stocking can be quickly and easily engaged with the bar 1 without in any way injuring the fine fabric 2, andintermediate the ends of the bar is asingle upright post 16 having the spaced pads 17 and 17 thereon, which are similar to the pads 6 and 7, in the main form of the invention. In this form of the invention, I do away with the second bar and connect the fabric strip 18 to a loop 19, which is spaced from a second loop 20, and connected thereto by a series of coil springs '21, the strip 22 connected to loop 20 being extended to the usual take-up roll.

Extending from the strip 22 to the strip 18 is a strip 23 which will limit the expansive movement of the spring members 21. I

Attached to the end of the strip 18 which is connected to the loop 19 is a loop 24, havmg an eyelet 25 and attached to this eyelet is an expansion spring 26. At the forward end of thespring 26 there is attached an engaging loop 27 having a restricted end 28 adapted to be engaged with thepost 16 between the pads 17 and 17 1 It will be apparent from the foregoing that the device illustrated in Figure 7 is used in the-same manner as the preferred form of the invention, although only one engaging loop is provided instead of two, as in the preferred form. I

It is believed from the foregoing that I have improved the gripping or take-up device for knitting machines of this character where the foot of a stocking is knitted onto the leg portion in a separate operation and by providing the yieldably mounted engaging loops, the fine fabric of the stocking can be quickly and easily engaged with the' bar 1 or detached therefrom and considerable strain can be placed upon the stocking without injuring the fabric.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that slight changes may be made in the construction when putting the inventlon intopractice without departing from the spirit of the same or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

- A tensioning device for footing ma- ChIDQSCOIIlPIlSiIlg spaced bars, spaced posts carried by one of said bars, spaced yieldable members carried by each post and loop members connected to the ends of the other bars for detachable engagement with said posts for gripping an intermediate portion of a stocking during the footin operation.

2. A tensioning device for footing machines comprising spaced bars, spaced posts carried by one of said bars, spaced yieldable pads carried by said posts with one pad smaller in diameter than the other, loop members adapted to be passed over the smaller pad and having restricted portions for embracing the posts, and means flexibly connecting the loop members to the second bar.

3. A tensioning device for footing machines comprising spaced bars, spaced posts carried by one of said bars, spaced yieldable pads carried bysaid posts with one pad smaller in diameter than the other, loop members adapted to be passed over the smaller pad and having restricted portions for embracing the posts,- means flexibly connecting the loop members to the second bar, and means forming connection between said bars to limit the lateral spacing thereof.

4. A tensioning device for footing machines comprising, spaced bars one longer than the other, spaced posts carried by the longer bar, yieldable pads mounted upon the posts in spaced relation, one of said pads being smaller than the other and located near the top of the posts and loop members flexibly connected to the ends of the smaller bar and adapted to pass over the smaller pads, arid a restricted portion integral with said loops for embracing the posts.

5. A tensioning device for footing ma-. chines comprising, spaced bars one longer than the other, spaced posts carried by the longer bar, yieldable pad buttons mounted upon the posts in spaced relation, one of said pads being smaller than the other and located near the top of the posts and loop members flexibly connected to the ends of the smaller bar and adapted to pass over the smaller pads, and a restricted portion integral with said loops for embracing the posts, and means forming connection between said bars to limit the lateral spacing thereof.

6. In a.tensioning device for footing machines, spaced bars one longer than the other, spaced posts carried by the longer bar, yieldable members carried by said posts and arranged in spaced relation, loop members having restricted portions and yieldable members forming connection between the ends of the smaller bar and the loop members whereby said loop members when engaged with said posts will be placed under tension.

7. In a tensioning device for footing machines, spaced bars one longer than the other,

spaced posts carriedby the longer bar, yiel\l able members carried by said posts and arranged in spaced relation, loop members having, restricted vportions and yieldable members forming connection between the ends of the smaller bar and the loop members whereby said loop members when engaged with said posts will be placed under tension, and

means forming connection between the two I bars to limit the lateral spacing thereof.

8. In a tensionin device for footing machines, a bar, a pa button carried thereby, a strip extending from the bar, means for maintaining the strip in a substantially taut position, and a loo carried by the strip for engagement with t e pad button.

9. Atensioning device for knitting ma chines employed for finishing the foot portions' of stockings comprising a tension'bar, a take-up strap connected to said tension bar, means carried by the tension bar for engag ing the heeltabs of a stocking, spaced yieldable members carried by an intermediate portion of the bar and overlying one face thereof, and a loop connected to the take-upstrap and cooperable with the spaced yieldable members for gripping the portion of the stocking between the heel tabs between said yieldable members.

10. A tensioning device for knitting ma-- chines comprising a bar, a strap connected to the bar, heel tab engaging hooks carried by the bar, a pad button carried by the bar intermediate the heel tab engaging hooks and overlying the top face of the bar and a loop flexibly connected to the strap and cooperable with the pad button for gripping the portion of the stocking in between the heel tabs.

11. A tensioning device of the character described comprising a bar, a strap connected the other and arranged on the top face of thebar, and a loop cooperable with the pad-like members for gripping between the pad-like members a portion of the stocking in between the heel tabs.

12. A tensioning device of the character described comprising a bar, a strap connected thereto, hooks carried by the bar and adapted to engage heel tabs of a stocking, yieldable the pad button for gripping a portion of the stocking intermediate the heel tabs.

14. A tensio'ning device for knitting machines comprising a tension bar, a take-up strap connected to the tension bar and having spring means embodied in its construction, means carried by the tension bar for engaging heel tabs of a stocking, a pad button carried by the tension bar and overlying the top face thereof and a loop flexibly connected to the strap and cooperable with the pad button for causing the pad button to frictionally grip a portion of the stocking in between the heel tabs.

15. A tensioning device for knitting machines-comprising a tension bar, a strap connected to said bar, means carried by the bar for engaging heel tabs of a stocking, a button-like member connected to the bar and having yieldable fabric enga ing surfaces, and a loop associated with the lensioning device and cooperable with the yieldable fabric engaging surfaces of the button-like member for gripping a portion of a stocking.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin. V

- 7 CHARLES T. LA MONT.

pad-like members fixed to an intermediate portion of the bar and disposed one above the other and arranged on the top face of the bar, 'the lower pad-like member being of greater size than the'upper pad-like memher, and a loop connected to the strap and having an enlarged portion adapted to be passed over the upper pad and having a restricted portion adapted to pull a portion of .the pad-like members and into gripping engagement therewith.

13. A tensioning device for knitting ma- F chines comprising a tension bar, a take-up 7 heel tabs of a stocking, a pad button connected to an intermediate portionof the bar and overlying to top face thereof, and a loop connected to the strap and cooperable with P the stocking between the heel tabs in between 

